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  • Drivers of adult flu vaccination

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    The drivers of influenza vaccination in adults: Insights from a national Australian survey

    Social scientists from the National Vaccination Insights Project, surveyed a nationally representative group of 2,009 adults over 18 years of age to understand what motivates them to receive the recommended influenza (flu) vaccine1 and compare findings to 2024 data collection.2  This survey was led by the Social and Behavioural Insights in Immunisation (SABII) research group.

    The team has conducted in-depth interviews with adults over 18 years of age to further understand the vaccination motivators and barriers identified in the survey. The interviews are currently being analysed, and results are expected in 2026.

    Summarised key findings from the survey

    Researchers administered questions from an adapted version of the World Health Organization’s Behavioural and Social Drivers (BeSD) of vaccination survey to understand the drivers of adult flu vaccination. The following motivators were identified as influential in 2025:

    Researchers also compared findings to last year’s survey:

    The likelihood of experiencing the following motivators changed between 2024 and 2025:

    • Personal decision-making: In 2025, adults were 1.7x more likely to be the main decision-maker about whether to get the flu vaccine compared to 2024 (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.36–2.19, p < 0.001).
    • Trust in health workers: In 2025, adults were nearly 1.6x more likely to trust the health workers who give the flu vaccine compared to 2024 (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.34–1.87, p < 0.001).
    • Costs: In 2025, adults were 1.5x more likely to find it easy to pay for a flu vaccine (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.33–1.75, p < 0.001) and nearly 1.3x more likely to afford the costs associated with getting a flu vaccine (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.10–1.44, p = 0.001) compared to 2024.
    • Access: In 2025, adults were nearly 1.3x more likely to know where to go to get a flu vaccination compared to 2024 (OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.04–1.54, p = 0.020).
    • Community leaders: In 2025, adults were 1.5x more likely to report that community leaders want them to get the flu vaccine compared to 2024 (OR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.22–1.89, p < 0.001). 
    • Personal responsibility: In 2025, adults were 15% less likely to feel a responsibility to get the flu vaccine in compared to 2024 (OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.75–0.99 p =0.035)
    • Personal health: In 2025, adults were 15% less likely to believe that the flu vaccine is important for their health compared to 2024 (OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.75–0.97, p =0.012).

    aOR=adjusted odds ratio; CI=confidence interval; P=p-value; OR=odds ratio.

    Researchers asked people who did not plan to get the flu vaccine in 2025 why they had made that choice. A total of 368 people shared 409 reasons, which the researchers grouped into six main themes:

    • Beliefs about personal health: Some adults felt they didn’t need the flu vaccine because they rarely get sick, had avoided flu in the past without it, or believed they were healthy enough to fight it off. Others thought they weren’t in a high-risk group, and a few said they might change their mind in the future if their health situation changes.
    • Beliefs about vaccines: Some adults were concerned about vaccine safety and effectiveness. Many of these reasons were related to negative personal experiences with vaccination or concerns that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Decision-making influenced by other relationships: For some adults, making a personal choice to get a flu vaccine was important and this was influenced by the way they viewed governments and health authorities. Some people were put-off by feeling pressured to get vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic and others felt that they did not trust pharmaceutical companies, and those who promote vaccination.
    • Vaccination processes and experiences: A small group of adults decided not to have a flu vaccination because they avoid needles. Some people gave other practical reasons, like the cost of the vaccine, being too busy, and finding it hard to book a convenient time
    • Beliefs about the flu: A small group of people though that the flu is not a severe illness and would not make them sick. An even smaller group did not think that the flu could be spread in warm climates, so they did not need a flu vaccine.
    • Medical reasons: A very small number of people said that they had allergies or health conditions that did not allow them to have a flu vaccine, or that their doctor recommended that they avoid it.

    References

    1. Christou-Ergos M, Sabahelzain MM, Steffens M, Kaufman J, Bolsewicz K, Danchin M & Leask J . Tracking the Behavioural and Social Drivers of Adult Influenza Vaccination: Insights from Australia’s First Serial Survey (August 11, 2025). http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5425394

    2. Christou-Ergos M, Sabahelzain MM, Steffens M, Kaufman J, Bolsewicz K, Danchin M & Leask J. The drivers of influenza vaccination in adults: insights from a national Australian survey. Vaccine: X 2025. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvacx.2025.100683

  • Vaccine Champions

    Vaccine Champions

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    In September, Professor Julie Leask was involved in a vaccine champions training of trainers program in Goroka, Papua New Guinea. She joined Dr Delly Barbona from the Burnett Institute PNG and Dr Jessica Kaufman from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute to train master trainers from the Provincial Health Authorities, Care PNG and UNICEF. Trainers were from Madang, Morobe and Eastern Highlands provinces and will continue to train health workers and community leaders to improve uptake of childhood immunisation. The work is funded by the Australian Regional Immunisation Alliance Regional Immunisation Support and Engagement (ARIA-RISE 2) scheme and UNICEF.

  • Study reinforces need for culturally tailored, Aboriginal-led immunisation education

    Study reinforces need for culturally tailored, Aboriginal-led immunisation education

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    A new Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health study has shed light on the importance of Aboriginal-led education to address the many factors that influence Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ acceptance of vaccines.

    The study was led by four Aboriginal women – Elizabeth Harwood, Kylie Taylor, Katrina Clark and Kristy Crooks – and incorporates Indigenist research methodologies, enabling control over data and honouring Indigenous Data Sovereignty principles.

    The study assessed the effectiveness of Aboriginal-led vaccine conversation workshops attended by 70 participants, most of whom provide immunisation services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the Hunter New England (HNE) region, in New South Wales.

    The workshops – titled ‘Keeping Mob safe: yarning about vaccination’ – were designed and facilitated by Aboriginal public health professionals in collaboration with non-Aboriginal public health experts with backgrounds in immunisation, public health and social science (Peter Murray and Jody Stephenson of the HNE Public Health Unit, Kasia Bolsewicz from NCIRS and Julie Leask from SABII at the University of Sydney).

    Facilitators created a culturally safe environment where workshop participants could discuss their experiences with, and concerns about, scheduled and recommended vaccinations through different types of ‘yarning’ – enabling the open sharing of ideas, suggestions and concerns.

    The research team iteratively refined the workshops based on participant feedback and community needs, incorporating culturally appropriate imagery and adapting the Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI) resource ‘Example of a supportive flu vaccine yarn’.

    Five key themes emerged across the workshops:

    1.    Information, knowledge and education
    2.    Trust and mistrust
    3.    Personal, community and cultural factors
    4.    Access and logistics
    5.    Communication and connection

    The authors concluded a community-led and engaged approach – one designed and championed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – can enhance vaccine knowledge and confidence. This approach also empowers immunisation providers and community members to have supportive conversations about vaccination with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They also suggest this model has the potential to be implemented more widely to address vaccine hesitancy and build resilience against threats to public confidence in vaccines in future.

    Further Information:

    The full article, Yarning about vaccinations: Empowering individuals to have supportive conversations with Aboriginal peoples about vaccinations, using a community-engaged approach has been published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

    Click below to download the Final Report and the Resource Toolkit, Having the Yarn: A practical resource for health workers facilitating vaccine workshops for Aboriginal communities

    And click here to access the accompanying slide kit.

    Final Report_Keeping Mob Safe_Yarning about vaccination_27June2025Download
    HNELHD Vaccine Workshop Toolkit_Having the Yarn_A practical resource for Health Workers_June2025Download
  • CDIC 2025

    CDIC 2025

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    Several members of the SABII team attended the CDIC (Communicable Diseases and Immunisation Conference) on Kaurna country/Adelaide last week.

    Julie Leask co-hosted a symposium with Katie Atwell titled, What Happens When Government Wipes its Hands of Vaccination?

    Left-Right: Ken Griffin (APNA), Prof. Katie Atwell (UWA), Prof. Julie Leask (USyd), Prof. Mark Jit (NYU)

    The symposium explored global examples of how governments build and maintain vaccination uptake. They walked through what is already occurring and likely to unfold in the United States and beyond. Bringing together concepts from public health and political science with examples from a range of countries, Professors Attwell and Leask provided a comprehensive “state of the nation” for immunisation uptake.

    Following their discussion, they were joined by panelists from government, research, and practice. The panel discussed the implications of the US situation for policy and programs in Australia and elsewhere, and what is needed to shore up government support for vaccination.

    Speakers: 1. Professor Katie Attwell – University of Western Australia; Professor Julie Leask – University of Sydney; Professor Mark Jit – Chair of the Department of Global and Environmental Health, NYU; Professor Nicola Spurrier – South Australian Chief Public Health Officer; Ken Griffin – CEO, Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association

    Other members of the SABII team, Ikram, Majdi, Kerrie, Rebika and Maria, also presented their work at the conference.

    Clockwise from left: Julie Leask, Majdi Sabahelzain, Kerrie Wiley, Ikram Abdi, Rebika Nepali

    The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Future directions for immunisation and communicable disease control: embracing ideas, innovations and improvements’.

    Well done to our SABII members for presenting their engaging and important work on the behavioural and social drivers of vaccination.

  • SABII Strategy Meeting

    SABII Strategy Meeting

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    A group of people (from the SABII team) seated around a large table for a meeting.

    In March, the SABII team (Social and Behavioural Insights in Immunisation) held a planning session to discuss the research goals and direction for our group.

    We brainstormed our strengths both individually and as a team and reviewed our aims and research agenda. The goal of SABII is to build knowledge and capacity in social and behavioural science to strengthen vaccinations programs around the world. We aim to create positive change in the world through three key pillars: a) understanding, b) integrating social science, c) leadership & support. Our team of 17 researchers is co-led by Prof. Julie Leask and Dr Kerrie Wiley. Check out the full SABII team.

  • Polio Roundtable

    Polio Roundtable

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    On Thursday March 20th, SABII member Dr. Majdi Sabahelzain participated in a Polio Roundtable discussion held to commemorate the visit of Canadian polio advocate Ramesh Ferris to Australia, which brought together key stakeholders in polio advocacy and action in Australia.

    The primary focus of the event was to strengthen Australia’s role in global polio eradication efforts, with representatives from Rotary, Global Citizen, Results Australia, NCIRS, and Polio Australia in attendance. The event featured a keynote address by Ramesh Ferris, who spoke about his journey and advocacy, global and regional progress towards polio eradication, and lessons learned from past successes.

    Following the keynote, there was an informal Q&A session with Ramesh, and the event concluded with an open discussion among all participants that addressed the current status of polio eradication, the role of vaccination programs, challenges in reaching the last mile, a reflections on Australia’s role in eradication efforts, particularly with the recent decisions of the U.S. administration to withdraw from WHO and dismantle USAID.

  • Vaccine risk communication in an era of polycrises

    Vaccine risk communication in an era of polycrises

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    Prof Julie Leask spoke about risk communication at the recent Asia Pacific Immunization Coalition’s conference in Singapore.

  • New publication by SABII members + colleagues

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    A new Perspective piece titled Is it time to retire the label “CALD” in public health research and practice? was published last week in the Medical Journal of Australia. It was led by SABII team member Ikram Abdi, and co-authored with Adeline Tinessia (SABII), Abela Mahimbo (UTS), Meru Sheel (IDIE) and Julie Leask (SABII).


    Writes Dr Ikram Abdi, “Whilst “CALD” was originally intended to capture diversity in Australia, it often obscures important differences, reinforces othering and may influence programs and policies in ways that don’t always serve the communities it aims to represent.

    This isn’t a new conversation. It’s been ongoing across many sectors, with growing calls to move away from the “CALD” label. Our think piece adds to this dialogue by highlighting the need for precise, accurate language in public health. Whilst there’s no single solution, being intentional with our words is crucial, as language shapes how we understand and address inequitie    s.”

    Is it time to retire the label “CALD” in public health research and practice? doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52608

    Introduction below, click the links to read the full piece.

    In Australian public health research and practice, the label “culturally and linguistically diverse” (CALD) is used to encompass a diversity of birth countries, languages and cultures. This term is routinely used in public health to address diversity, to guide equitable access to health resources, and inform inclusive policies and programs. It influences how health research and services are designed and implemented. However, the label has inherent limitations, and its broad application simplifies and masks disparities within these diverse communities. As researchers, like many others, we have also used the label “CALD” as a form of acknowledgement of diversity in Australia. This perspective article challenges the use of the label, recognising its use in current research and practice, while also exploring the need for a more nuanced approach.

    Click here to read the full Open Access article: Is it time to retire the label “CALD” in public health research and practice? doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52608

  • New publications

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    In a recent analysis paper published in BMJ Global Health, Majdi Sabahelzain and Julie Leask from SABII, along with Harriet Dwyer (LSHTM) and Seye Abimbola (SSPH), analysed vaccination coverage and the trend of polio and measles outbreaks in five countries affected by conflict in the Sahel Region of Africa: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Sudan. The study reveals that ongoing conflicts lead to more children missing vaccinations and an increase in polio outbreaks caused by vaccine-derived poliovirus and measles in these countries. Health insecurity in the Sahel region is highlighted by the emergence of genetically linked polio variants, primarily due to the mobility of nomads and displaced and refugee populations who might be un or under-vaccinated. The paper also suggests using diplomatic strategies and investing in creative methods to help reach vaccination programs in hard-to-access areas.

    In December, Majdi Sabahelzain presented some of his research into zero-dose children in conflict during Gavi’s Zero-Dose Learning Week Post-Event Webinar went live last December on YouTube.

  • Happy Holidays!

    Happy Holidays!

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    Last week the SABII team and colleagues from NCIRS enjoyed an end-of-year lunch at the pub. Here are a few snaps of the team. It’s rare to have so many of us together in one place!

    As another busy and successful year winds to a close, the SABII team would like to wish everyone a safe, restful and happy festive season. See you in the new year!

    SABII selfie!
    SABII and NCIRS teams
    SABII staff
    End-of-year lunch